RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SIDEY, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1908 Session I, I-06

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L9OB. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. SIDEY, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 3rd Day of July, 1908. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to examine and report upon questions relating to the railways, with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Arnold, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Massey, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Ross, Mr. Sidey, Mr. Witty, Mr. Wood, and the mover." —(Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.)

INDEX.

No. Petitioners. Page. , 309 Barton, William S Christchurch—Lyttelton Railway 3 194 Connell, J. A. 3 9 Conyers, William 2 624 Davis, Robert :: 12 Golds-worthy, William ■2 19 Hanson, R. H. W. 2 47 Hodge, William 2

No. Petitioners. Page. 222 Jackson, James 2 418 Mace, G. W., and 20 others 8 206 Patterson, Adam 8 43 Patterson, Thomas 2 46 Ross, George S. 2 276 (Sadler, W. 3 104 & 493 Vailo, Samuel 3 Final Report 4

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REPOKTB. No. 9. —Petition of William Conybrs, Melbourne, Victoria. PBTITIONBB prays for compassionate allowance on account of injuries received while in the Government Railway service. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1908. No. 43.—Petition of Thomas Patterson, Invercargill. PBTITIONBB prays for full compensation for injuries sustained as a result of a railway accident. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 31st July, 1908. No. 46.—Petition of George S. Ross, Riccarton. Pbtitionbb prays for compensation for the invention of a protective plate in locomotive boilers. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. .'(lst July, 1908. No. 12. —Petition of William Goldsworthy, Pukekohe, Auckland. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of a horse and damage to cart by an engine at Pukekohe Railway-station. . . . 1 am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. (ill. August, 1908. No. 19.—Petition of R. H. W. Hanson, Auckland. Petitioner prays for relief on account of accidents, Ist May, 1891, and, secondly, 29th May, 1908, at Frankton Railway Junction, Auckland. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends thai this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 6th August, 1908. No. 47.—Petition of William Hodge. Petitioner prays for relief on account of injuries received while working on the railway, and also being deprived of his sick-pn\. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth September, 1908. No. 222. —Petition of James Jackson. Petitioner prays for compensation on account of an accident while working in a ballast-pit on the Otago Central Railway. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Bth September, 1908.

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No. 206.—Petition of Adam Patterson and Another. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of warehouse accommodation through duplication of the Mosgiel -Dunedin Railway. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Bth September, 190*. No. 276.—Petition of W. Sadler. Petitioner prays for compensation for injuries received while in Government service. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the (rovernmonl for considerai ion. Bth September, 1908. No. 194.—Petition of J. A. Connell. Pbtitionbr prays for an inquiry in connection with the Wellington Railway Offices contract. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 30th September, 1908. Nos. 104 and 493. —Petitions of Samuel A'aile. Petitioner prays for an unconditional trial of the system known as " Vaile's stage system." I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that these petitions be referred to the Government for consideration. 30th September, 1908. Christohuroh-Lyttelton Railway. Order of Reference dated the Bth Day of July, 1908. Il.u ing considered the question referred to the Committee by the House of Representatives in connection with the Lyttelton-Christchurch Railway, and having taken evidence thereon, 1 have the honour to report,— 1. That the evidence submitted to the Committee disclosed no ground of complaint regarding the passenger-fares or the adequacy of the means of communication, or regarding the service generally as at present carried out. 2. That the only ground of complaint disclosed by the evidence was regarding the method of computation of the charges for freight under which the Department charged by measurement or dead-weight at its option, the contention being that the charges should in every case be on a dead-weight basis on existing rates. The Committee find that the method of computation is uniform throughout the Dominion with respect to all port lines except the Bluff-Invercargill, where in the year 1885 the measurement rate was limited to a charge not exceeding twice the rate for deadweight. . , The Committee resolved that the whole question of the method of computation of the freight, charges on port lines be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th October, 1908. No. 624.—Petition of Robert Davis. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of a horse caused by breaking its leg in a cattle-stop. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th October, 1908. No. 309.—Petition of William Barton. Pbtitionbr prays for compensation for and security from fires caused by sparks from railwayengines . , [ am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th October, 1908. No 418.-—Petition of G. W. Mace and 20 Others. Petitioners pray for the construction of a loading and receiving yard at Mangaiti Station. 1 am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th October, 1908.

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Final Report. I am directed to report, — (1.) That the Committee held 9 meetings during the session. (2.) That the Committee dealt with 16 petitions. (3.) That the number referred to the Government for consideration was 8. (4.) That the number referred to the Government for favourable consideration was 3. (5.) That the number on which the Committee made no recommendation was 4. (6.) That the number referred to other Committees was 1. I am also to report that, in accordance with the order of reference dated the Bth July, the Committee took evidence on the method of computation of freight charges on port lines. I am further directed to report that the thanks of the Committee be given to the Chairman, Mr. Sidey, for the attention with which he conducted the affairs of the Committee, and the able, efficient, and courteous manner in which he carried out his duties. 10th October, 1908.

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